Sharing our past to inform the presentArchaeology & Heritage

Development and history may at times seem to be at odds. The effects of environment and time, along with urbanization and the ever increasing need for new infrastructure keeps our landscape ever changing. However, sometimes lost in the acceleration of the world around us is the fact that historic places and structures have the ability to have an impact on our lives that is more than physical – they connect us to our past, contributing to our identity and who we are as a society. In reality, once we tear down and build or pave over, we may have lost something we can never recover again.

WSP is committed to providing the expert advice that allows our clients to make informed decisions for the future of their built and natural landscapes while keeping its character intact, empowering them as custodians who connect heritage with the future. As partners in the process, we help you understand and navigate the legislation and assessment process, so that you are able to understand early in the project what is required, instead of making changes at crucial periods of design and construction.

Have the confidence in WSP’s over 50 years of experience working with archaeology, built heritage and cultural heritage landscapes. Our team contributes to the identification, mitigation of developmental impacts and conservation

of cultural heritage resources across Canada, delivering solutions that respect the environmental, aesthetic, cultural, and historical values that shape our communities and their collective identities. We liaise extensively with the public, local architectural conservation advisory committees, and other stakeholders, and are active members and participants in the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP), the Canadian Archaeological Association (CAA), the Alliance for Historic Landscape Preservation, the National Trust for Canada, and the Association for Preservation Technology. We have advised on archaeological sites, landscapes, structures and monuments of every classification in Canada, the United States and internationally.

HOW DO CULTURAL HERITAGE RESOURCES AFFECT MY PROJECT?

When proposing development on or adjacent to significant cultural heritage resources, it is important to identify them early in the process. With expert planning, the design of the development can often avoid future conflict with the community or municipality, and often results in a development that is as good as or better than if the heritage resources were removed.

Cover : 250 Bloor Street East, Toronto, ON Left page : Parliament Buildings, West Block, Ottawa, ON

How do I approach a cultural heritage resource near my development?

Heritage impact assessment

Archaeological assessment

Planning, design, and guideline development

Tender and project management

Screening, evaluation, research and analysis, recommendations, reporting

If there is a potential of impacting archaeological resources, whether by discovery or recommendation, a professional archaeologist must carry out an assessment

Overview, property assessment and survey, excavation, historians, evaluation, research and analysis, recommendations, reporting

Historical Buildings – Repair or restoration, maintenance

Culture Heritage Landscapes – Conservation, research, preservation planning

Archaeological Resources - Mitigation options, avoidance and protection or excavation

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Right page : Evaluation and maintenance of Brock’s Monument, Niagara Falls, ON (Photo © Artur Rozumek).

Services

ARCHAEOLOGY

Property assessment

Cultural resource management

Special places

Archaeological overview assessments

Archaeological inventory or surveys

Archaeological impact assessments

Implementation of mitigation strategies

Archaeological analysis

Monitoring the condition of archaeological resources

Master plan development

BUILT HERITAGE AND CULTURAL HERITAGE LANDSCAPES

Built heritage assessments

Heritage streetscape revitalization and design

Heritage urban design

Cultural heritage landscape surveys, analysis, research and evaluation

Historic site restoration

Cultural heritage landscape design and restoration

HERITAGE PLANNING

Heritage planning policy

Heritage conservation district studies and plans

GEOMATICS

GIS

Augmented reality

3D modeling

Laser scanning

BUILDING REHABILITATION

Structural evaluation of existing buildings

Structural design of new additions to existing buildings

Seismic retrofit of existing buildings and structures

Bridge evaluation and retrofit

Façade evaluation, repair design, contract administration and construction review

Performance modelling of existing wall/window assemblies for durability and retrofit

Unique projects,unique resources,

unique histories.

Left page : Revitalization of electrical and wireless services for union station, toronto, ON (Top 100 of Canada’s Biggest Infrastructure Projects, ReNew Canada)

A TRULY INTEGRATED AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH

We are unique in having the integrated resources to deliver expert advice on archaeology resources and assessment, to cultural heritage landscapes assessment, to the assessment, repair and rehabilitation of heritage structures. This translates into continuity, collaboration and simplified communication at each critical phase. As well, we offer clients access to a large multidisciplinary team with expertise in broad fields such as ecology, environmental and civil engineering, and transportation planning.

A PORTFOLIO OF AWARD-WINNING PROJECTS

Having successfully delivered across all sectors and phases, our team has the ability to combine technical understanding with practical solutions that are as unique as the projects we work on. We also strive to connect heritage issues to the wider context, informing our approach to urban design and place-making.

A PRACTICAL, INVESTIGATIVE APPROACH

Ours is a practical management approach. We balance the need for improved performance with many other factors, including cost, durability and physical appearance. We start heritage projects by understanding the client’s objectives for the property in the short, medium and long term. We review documentation that explains the

construction and significance of the property and associated structures. Visiting the site allows us to explore and document current conditions, structural performance and state of deterioration of buildings. When heritage structures are involved, our repair and renewal strategies are designed to address deficiencies while being as minimally invasive as possible so as to not significantly alter the building’s form and fabric.

OUR SPECIALISTS ARE WHERE OUR CLIENTS NEED US

Our archaeology, built heritage and cultural heritagelandscapes landscape specialist teams operate across Canada and have a clear understanding of regional differences as well as provincial and federal legislation. Made up of professionals and technicians with vast experience and a solid track record of achievements, the majority of these specialists have more than 15 years of professional experience in their disciplines and share their knowledge to offer the best service possible to our clients wherever they may be.

SUSTAINABILITY IS EMBEDDED INTO OUR STRATEGY AND VISION

As heritage is an inherently sustainable endeavour, it is essential that great care is taken to ensure that the information we learn as we uncover the past is properly documented and preserved for the future. In applying principles of sustainable development, we are able to utilize solutions that benefit our clients, while respecting the need to preserve the history and culture of the site.

Why WSP?

Left page : Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto, ON (Photo © Aude).

ST. LAWRENCE MARKET

Client: Urban Revitalization

Location: Toronto, Ontario

Roles: Establish survey network through conventional methodsLaser scan entire city block for accurate as-buildProvide plans, surfaces and utilities for the street level and profiles of historical facet for redevelopment

MMM Group Limited produced detailed drawings of all street level hardware, curbing and landscape features within the city block.

Along with plans, surfaces were provided for drainage analysis and wheelchair accessibility. Laser scanning provided detailed drawings of the historical facets for retro fitting of raised walkways between buildings. Street scanning was completed at night within the busy city block, enabling all street level data to be safely acquired with no disturbance to the flow of traffic and pedestrians.

Legal surveys were also provided for the overlay of cadastral fabric.

The project deliverables enabled architects and engineers to work together with absolute confidence in the up-to-date base data and ensured the historical aspect of the project remained intact.

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01 / MCC Mackenzie King Estate landscape improvements, Gatineau, QC;02 / ArchAeology overview, Lac Des Mille Lacs, Thunder Bay District, ON

(In cooperation with the Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation); 03 / High definition scanning of St. Lawrence market, Toronto, ON;

04 / Property Condition Assessment and restoration of Fairmont Hotel MacDonald, Edmonton AB (Municipal Heritage Resource by the City of Edmonton);

05 / Evergreen Brick Works, Toronto, ON (LEED® consulting and structural design / LEED-NC Platinum Certified);

06 / Research, master planning and landscape design of ‘The Tangled Garden’ MacDonald Homestead, Thornhill, ON (Awarded a national heritage award and regional award);07 / Repair and renewal of 20 Richmond Street East, Toronto, ON (2010 CAHP award winner).

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WSP™ is one of the world’s leading professional services consulting firms. We are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower. We are technical experts and strategic advisors including engineers, technicians, scientists, project managers, planners, surveyors and environmental specialists, as well as other design and program management professionals. We design and deliver lasting solutions in the Buildings, Transportation, Infrastructure, Oil & Gas, Environment, Geomatics, Mining, Power and Industrial sectors as well as project delivery and strategic consulting services. With over 7,500 talented people across Canada and 36,000 globally, we engineer projects that will help societies grow for generations to come.

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wsp.com archaeology@wsp.comheritage@wsp.com